by S’ola Filani
Some train passengers around communities in Agbado Railway Crossing in Ogun State, took laws into their hands destroying the newly-inaugurated multimillion naira luxury passenger train on Tuesday.
They threw stones and bottles at the new train.
This took place less than 24 hours after it was inaugurated by the Federal Government in Lagos.
Although the angry protesters have been arrested, many people, including officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), were injured in the attack.
The passengers were protesting against the increase in fares of mass transit trains, which was introduced by the NRC and commenced operation on June 1.
The trouble allegedly started on Tuesday when the price of the newly-inaugurated luxury train was pegged at N700.
Passengers using the old luxury mass transit train condemned the new fare, which they described as “almost 50 per cent increase” from the former rate.
The deputy director in charge of communication of the NRC, David Ndakosu, confirmed the damage of the new train.
